Colonial Question

Smittys

Is this Real..??
Can you tell which one it is..??
And what value does it have in this condition..???
Thanks

Longacre

I have no idea, but we have a lot of colonial experts in the house and I am looking forward to their answers. They are some pretty sharp guys.

cointagious

Appears to be a genuine 1787. Worth? $30. - 40. ish.

BillJones

Definitely real, but obviously corroded and beat up. It has all of the earmarks of a genuine coin. The lettering and devices are sharp, and the style of the die work exactly what it should be for the era. Unfortunately the coin was struck off-center, which has left you without a readable date. But I’d say the coin is worth perhaps $30 to $40 (retail $40 to $50 as is.

I’m not a New Jersey Copper expert (I have one nice coin for type), and I don’t have the die variety reference books. But I’m sure that an expert could give you a Maris number for this piece because there is enough detail left.

VermonAuctori

Hello. Your New Jersey is Maris variety 23-R dated 1786. It is one of the commoner 1786's with a rarity of R-2(500-1250) known. It is not worth much monetarily speaking but it may have some sentimental value to you.

Hope this helps.

novacaesarea

Hi Smittys,

I generally agree with VermonAuctori, although I would say it is just slightly rarer. Probably an R-3 (200 to 500). Looks like the coin has travelled a few miles since it was produced in 1786.

To add a little more color, it was probably minted at the Rahway, New Jersey Mint, the first mint for the Colony. You will also note on the reverse it has the legend E PLURIBUS UNUM..."out of many, one". While this is fairly familiar to us today, this was the first time this legend appeared on a coin. Also notice the 13 stripes on the sheild (for the 13 original colonies---sorry VermonAuctori<s&gt. The obverse horse head over plough is generally a representation of the New Jersey State seal. NOVA CAESAREA, New Ceaser....is for new Caesarea or the former name of the Isle of Jersey upon it's conquest by one of the Ceasers (I forgot which).

Anyway, as you can tell by my screen name, I collect them by die varieties of which there are a little over 140.

novacaesarea